Fallen

By: Meghan McLaws

The night air was cooler in this area of the planet, Jadeite thought as he snuck out to the balcony of the main ballroom. He looked up at the sky, at least glad that the stars were still in the sky. Everything seemed so different to him. While he was in training at home, at least he felt like things would be normal. Here, everything was much bigger. Even this night was surreal for him. A ball at the palace in his honor? Would his friends back home ever believe him when he wrote to them?

He tugged on the collar of his new formal uniform, not use to such tailored fit. The rest of the generals said that he would get used to it, that this would all seem normal eventually. Jadeite wasn't sure that he believed them, but he simply nodded to them, placating them for the moment. It was hard for him to focus on anything, since everything was so new to him. Sure, he lived in a palace, but it was nothing as big, as opulent as this. He would need time for this to feel normal for him.

Leaning against the railing, he looked out, glad to see that he could almost see the ocean, if he looked hard enough. And the moon was bright enough that the reflection shimmered against the dark that was the water.

"This is my favorite place, too."

He rolled his eyes, knowing that the soft, bubbly voice could only be coming from Semine. He turned, unable to help the little laugh that popped out of his mouth. She was completely disheveled, except for her hair. Her white blonde hair was pinned up, save a few pieces that had fallen from the bun. Her light pink dress had a strawberry sauce stain down the front from the dessert they served. And God only knew where her shoes had ended up. But regardless of her look, she had a bright smile on her face; her eyes seemed to sparkle in the combination of candlelight and moonlight. She stepped forward, overly friendly, overly willing to be a buckle of giggles.

"What makes you say that?" He asked, barely bigger than she was. His arms, crossed over his torso, reminded Semine of Kunzite, who always seemed to take that same stance. Of course, Kunzite was much friendlier to her now that he knew her better.

She ran towards the balcony, stepping up to her tip toes to lean against the rail. "Because you can see the moon and the stars and the ocean, all in one place." She said with a giggle, wishing she was just a little taller, so she could see above the wall surrounding the castle to really see the lake. "Kunzite usually lifts me up so I can see it. But this is just as good." Semine glanced over her shoulder, smiling. It wasn't such a mystery that the shitennou all seemed to be wrapped around her finger. Her innocence was infectious.

He turned on his heels, standing side by side with the girl as they looked out. He looked into the garden, her up at the sky. The silence was comforting for him as he'd spent the past 3 hours answering questions from the older shitennou. He didn't want the third degree from this little girl. And somehow, she knew that he needed the quiet, a moment of peace in what was going to be a hectic life. He smiled as he watched her, so involved with staring at the moon that she didn't even notice him watching.

Out of nowhere, she giggled, dropping to the balls of her feet and facing him, not at all shy at his staring. "You get use to all of this." Semine said with a smile and another soft giggle. The girl, still barefoot, motioned for him to follow her. This little pixie was either going to murder him or enchant him. He looked skyward, begging for guidance has he followed her down the steps.

Semine smiled as she looped her arm through his, moving slowly through the gardens. The path was candlelit, and for a while, she wouldn't be missed from the party. "Kunzite is kind of stuffy. He tends to be a real hard ass." She said, repeating the words she had heard Hematite say to Adamite. And coming from the little one, who was trying so hard to look tough, it sounded so ridiculous. Jadeite had to smile at her as she continued to lead him around the garden, explaining her personal take on each of the boys who would be very powerful men. "But he can be a softy, too. Nephrite is a man whore in the making." Jadeite froze, unable to believe what he was hearing. Next time he was with the older shitennou, he would have to remind them to be careful what they said. It seemed that this little one picked up on everything that was said in her presence. "But he's harmless. And he likes to joke a lot. He tends to look at the stars a lot, too. If he's missing, you can find him outside. Zoisite, he's shy at first. And he gets picked on cuz he looks like a girl, but he is really smart. Super-duper smart. I think he knows everything. But he doesn't act like it."

Jadeite was hooked, not wanting this little girl to stop talking, "And Endymion?"

She stuck her tongue out at his name, like she'd tasted something bad, "He likes to tease me endlessly. Makes fun of how I eat, pins me down and tickles me. He chases me around the castle when he can. Magnetite tells him to knock it off or he'll hit him where the sun don't shine." That was the last straw for him. Jadeite let out a deep laugh, unable to pretend he was so much more mature than this little one. After all, he was only a year older. She deepened her voice, trying to do her best to imitate each of the king's shitennou and failing miserably. But the act, so childish, so well meant, made him laugh. Any pretense he had seemed to melt away. She was infectious and soon the two of them were laughing so hard they were collapsed on the ground in fits of giggles.

This is how Kunzite, who had been searching for the two, found them. Their heads were close together, Semine's hand covering her mouth as Jadeite finished the punch line of some joke. They both fell onto their backs, the laughter of two children mingling with Kunzite's own semi-deep chuckle. He didn't hear the joke, nor did he care to, but it was more the bonding of the two. Because, in all reality, they were both just kids who didn't know better. And watching her worm her way into the blond boy's heart the same way she had with the rest of them was refreshing. She was innocent- something they all needed more of. And while Magnetite had cautioned them about friending the little girl, he hadn't said why. And that hadn't stopped the group from taking her under their wing and protecting her.

The older boy cleared his throat, causing the two to just start giggling again. "The king is looking for you, Jadeite. Best not to keep him waiting." He said as he knelt down to help the boy up off the ground. He helped Semine up as Jadeite headed back towards the castle. And he sighed as he saw the newest addition to her look. Her hair was completely out of its pins, slightly knotted with pieces of grass in her blond locks. Her backside was covered with grass stains, the dress probably a lost cause now. He couldn't help but chuckle, very use to this side of her. "Layla is going to be very upset with you." He said, his voice trying to be stern.

But she saw right through it. "She's all bluster, right?" She said with a smile, repeating the phrase Endymion used whenever he talked about King Verrin. "She'll yell a bit. But she loves me. And it's just a dress." She sighed, brushing her hands off the dress, adding dirt stains to the growing list of imperfections on a once pristine dress. She giggled as Kunzite sighed, offering his hand to walk her back to the palace. He could try all he wanted to be put out by having to escort the little one back to the castle, but how could he when she was standing next to him, talking up a storm?

The boys stood, at the end of the night, in Endymion's new set of rooms: which, for the first time, included a sitting room. The new sets of rooms were different from his childhood room. He was on his way to adulthood, so he would need the bigger space. In one corner, the five boys stood closely, looking over the space with a fine eye. Large couches plush with dark fabrics, surrounding large windows. The rooms themselves were much different from the bright, airy rooms of his childhood. With thick brick walls and a large stone fireplace, the sitting room held odd warmth that had been missing from his other rooms. But not only that, they were all interlaced with the rooms of the generals. The rooms were very similar to the ones his parents shared. Even his father's men had rooms like that.

For Endymion, it felt incredibly odd to leave the rooms that had been his since his birth. He was getting closer and closer to being of age. As much as he was looking forward to being an adult, the prince would miss his childhood. Now that all his guardians were here, he would no longer have as much free time to be able to enjoy being a kid. Every activity would have a purpose. Riding would turn from a fun event to a lesson. His trusty pony Gendry would be replaced in a few weeks on his birthday; a stallion meant for a prince would take his place. Everything in his life was changing. Everything but his friends and their connection to each other- that was at least staying the same.

"So Semine…" Jadeite started, breaking the prolonged silence. The others just laughed because they knew how odd the whole arrangement seemed. The blonde just blink, really unsure as to what to expect from the group. He felt a little left out from the jokes. These four obviously had a close bond that the newest addition to the group couldn't get a feel for. Hematite had explained to him on the ride from the shore to the castle that as much as he might feel left out, he needed to know that the young general wouldn't always feel that way. Each of the generals joined the prince at his age, a tradition that had been carried down with the past 8 kings. His promise—that it would get easier—kept him going.

Kunzite with his odd white blonde hair, just shrugged his shoulder, "She means well. And she is just very young. The other girls in court don't like her. She isn't so bad, I promise."

"I know. I just think it's funny that you all treat her like she owns the moon or something." Jadeite said with a smile, his hands moving to fiddle with the hem of the newer dark tunic.

Nephrite was the first to finally lounge on one of the couches, throwing himself onto the settee overflowing with pillows. "You seemed to like her well enough." The general was smiling as he fiddled with one of the pillows before tossing it at the youngest one.

Whatever tension was in the room seemed to be broken as the boys settled into light banter. While the newest addition might not have been with them as long, Jadeite seemed to be fitting in just fine.